10 Best Books About Betrayal Written by Russian Authors

Betrayal is not merely a personal drama but a sharp scalpel, exposing the most painful sores of the human soul and society. Russian literature has for centuries served as a ruthless mirror, showing how families, friendships, and entire states crumble due to deceit, weakness, or self-interest. This selection gathers 10 key works that explore betrayal in all its forms.

From great novels where infidelity leads to ruin to modern allegories connecting personal betrayal with social decay, these books offer a profound look at human nature.

1. Fayina’s Dream by Yulia Basharova

The heroine experienced betrayal in its bitterest form—not only from her own husband, whom she had known since youth, but also from her comrades. Her husband took her child by rigging the facts and taking advantage of the situation, while her comrades betrayed her for personal gain. The story of the people who betrayed her is a mirror reflection of the entire nation, which has degraded so much that it has brought its country to war, preferring personal self-interest and profit over the truth.

2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The central betrayal here is the violation of marital fidelity, the infidelity to her husband, which leads to the destruction of not only one family but also her entire social circle. But the novel also explores another betrayal: Anna’s betrayal of herself when she prioritizes passion over motherhood and social standing.

3. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

In this novel, betrayal reaches a biblical scale. There is the betrayal of paternal duty, the betrayal of a son, and the betrayal of God. The central theme is the role of every family member in the overall sin and “crime” that became possible due to moral decay and inaction.

4. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Although the novel focuses on murder, it is a consequence of the hero’s betrayal of himself, his moral principles, and his belief in goodness. The idea of the “superman,” for which Raskolnikov commits the crime, becomes the greatest betrayal of his human essence.

5. And Quiet Flows the Don by Mikhail Sholokhov

Betrayal in this epic is twofold. It is personal infidelity: Grigory is torn between his wife Natalya and the love of his life, Aksinya. But, most importantly, it is the betrayal of the Cossacks, torn between the Whites and the Reds, where changing sides is perceived as a betrayal of one’s native land and people.

6. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Betrayal here is often not intentional evil but a fatal consequence of historical events. Heroes are forced to betray their former lives, their ideals, and often each other, simply to survive in the chaos of the Revolution and Civil War.

7. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The novel is full of the betrayal of hopes and ideals. Prince Myshkin betrays his love for Aglaya, unable to abandon his compassion for Nastasya Filippovna, which ultimately leads to tragedy. The characters constantly betray their better instincts, succumbing to pride, passion, and vanity.

8. Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy

Here, betrayal is the starting point of the entire plot: the main character, Nekhlyudov, betrays the village girl Katyusha Maslova in his youth, seducing her and abandoning her. He dedicates the rest of his life to atoning for this betrayal, which leads him to spiritual enlightenment.

9. Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

At first glance, this is a novel about ideas, but under the guise of nihilism, Bazarov betrays his own principles when he falls in love. He betrays his science and cynicism in the face of living feeling. This betrayal of his own theory shows the weakness and strength of human nature.

10. First Love by Ivan Turgenev

In this novella, betrayal is hidden but incredibly painful. The young hero Vladimir learns about the betrayal of his ideal: the woman he loves is playing a double game. And the most painful discovery is that the betrayer is his own father.